System and method for integrating air and ground transportation of passengers and cargo

A method for transporting passengers and cargo by air and ground, the method comprising the steps of:

• carrying by ground-based transport from a passenger origin site to an airfield a portable passenger compartment adapted for transportation by air and ground, wherein the portable passenger compartment includes passengers residing therein, and wherein the passenger origin site is distant from the airfield wherein said portable passenger compartment is of universal size and configuration, its structure and exterior fabricated of rigid materials, its dimensions allowing it to be transported on streets and highways, containing a plurality of seats, video displays, accommodations that include storage containers and means for storing, preparing and delivering food and beverages, a plurality of bathrooms, and utilities including electricity, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, water, audio, video, and computer feeds;
• moving by ground-based transport from a cargo origin site to an airfield cargo present in a portable cargo compartment adapted for transportation by air and ground, wherein the cargo origin site is distant from the airfield wherein said cargo compartment is of universal size and configuration, its structure and exterior fabricated of rigid materials, its dimensions allowing it to be transported on streets and highways, capable of carrying cargo of a predetermined cubic volume and weight;
• loading at an airfield the portable passenger compartment and the portable cargo compartment into an aircraft cooperatively configured to receive and concurrently transport the portable passenger compartment and the portable cargo compartment said aircraft comprises a basic structure containing the nose section, cockpit, wings, engines, tail section, and a hollow fuselage located between said cockpit and tail section, a plurality of aircraft sizes holding a plurality of said portable passenger compartments, said hollow fuselage comprises an internal rigid structure conforming to the shape of said portable passenger compartment, and apparatus enabling said portable passenger compartment to be loaded into, unloaded from, and securely attached to said aircraft;
• and
• transporting the portable passenger compartment and the portable cargo compartment concurrently by air in the aircraft from a first airfield to a second airfield;
• unloading at a second airfield the portable passenger compartment and the portable cargo compartment from the aircraft onto a trailer;
• carrying by ground-based transport from a second airfield to a destination passenger terminal a portable passenger compartment, wherein the portable passenger compartment includes passengers residing therein, and wherein the passenger destination site is distant from the airfield;
• moving by ground-based transport from a second airfield to a destination cargo facility cargo present in a portable cargo compartment adapted for transportation by air and ground, wherein the cargo destination site is distant from the airfield.

A method for transporting passengers and cargo by air and ground, said method comprising the steps of:

• processing passengers at a first passenger terminal located distant from a first airfield, said passenger terminal comprises a building complex with a plurality of levels providing functions including ticketing, check-in, baggage check-in, baggage claim, various forms of people movers, and baggage conveyance;
• embarking passengers into a portable passenger compartment at a first passenger terminal located distant from a first airfield wherein said portable passenger compartment is of universal size and configuration, its structure and exterior fabricated of rigid materials, its dimensions allowing it to be transported on streets and highways, containing a plurality of seats, video displays, accommodations that include storage containers and means for storing, preparing and delivering food and beverages, using a robot to deliver food and beverages, a plurality of bathrooms, and utilities including electricity, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, water, audio, video, and computer feeds, and apparatus enabling said portable passenger compartment to be attached to ground transport means and to the aircraft;
• processing and loading air freight cargo into portable cargo compartment at a first cargo facility located distant from said first airfield said cargo facility comprises a building complex with a plurality of levels and plurality of doors providing access to said portable cargo compartment;
• carrying portable passenger compartment from first passenger terminal to first airfield said portable passenger compartment mounted onto a trailer, wherein said trailer comprises a flatbed top surface equal to shape and dimensions of the bottom of said portable passenger compartment, mounted on a chassis with plurality of wheels, with longitudinal rigid guards on the top right-hand and left-hand sides of said trailer, an apparatus on top surface of said trailer to facilitate horizontal forward and reverse movement of said portable passenger compartment on top of said trailer, a locking apparatus to securely attach said portable passenger compartment to said trailer, a towing mechanism on the front and on the rear of said trailer;
• moving portable cargo compartment mounted onto a trailer from first cargo facility to first airfield;
• loading portable passenger compartment and portable cargo compartment into aircraft said aircraft comprises a basic structure containing the nose section, cockpit, wings, engines, tail section, and a hollow fuselage located between said cockpit and tail section, a plurality of aircraft sizes holding a plurality of said portable passenger compartments, said hollow fuselage comprises an internal rigid structure conforming to the shape of said portable passenger compartment, and apparatus enabling said portable passenger compartment to be loaded into, unloaded from, and securely attached to said aircraft, safety parachute securely attached to top of said portable passenger compartment;
• transporting portable passenger compartment and portable cargo compartment concurrently from a first airfield to a second airfield;
• unloading portable passenger compartment and portable cargo compartment from aircraft at second airfield and mounting onto trailer;
• carrying portable passenger compartment from a second airfield to a second passenger terminal;
• moving portable cargo compartment from a second airfield to a second cargo facility.